Manager Season Dates 30 Sep 2003 – 6 Oct 2003 | Manager Season Location United States of America | |
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Television ESPN (Games 1, 3, 4)
Fox (Game 2) TV announcers Jon Miller, Joe Morgan (Game 1)
Joe Buck, Tim McCarver (Game 2)
Chris Berman, Jeff Brantley, David Justice (Games 3–4) Radio announcers Dan Shulman, Dave Campbell Television ESPN (Games 1, 4)
ESPN2 (Games 2–3)
Fox (Game 5) Similar 2004 American League D, 2002 American League D, 2000 American League D, 1998 American League D, 2006 American League D | ||
The 2003 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 2003 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Monday, October 6, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:
Contents
- New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins
- Oakland Athletics vs Boston Red Sox
- Game 1 September 30
- Game 2 October 2
- Game 3 October 4
- Game 4 October 5
- Composite box
- Game 1 October 1
- Game 5 October 6
- References
The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage (Games 1, 2 and 5 at home), which was determined by playing record. Although the team with the best record was normally intended to play the wild card team, the Yankees played the Twins, rather than the wild card Red Sox, because the Yankees and Red Sox are in the same division.
The Yankees and Red Sox went on to meet in the AL Championship Series, for the right to advance to the 2003 World Series against the National League champion Florida Marlins.
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
New York won the series, 3–1.
Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
Boston won the series, 3–2.
Game 1, September 30
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York
Game 2, October 2
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York
Game 3, October 4
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game 4, October 5
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
New York's victory secured their place in the American League Championship Series.
Composite box
2003 ALDS (3–1): New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins
Game 1, October 1
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
After the Athletics tied the game 4–4 in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Erubiel Durazo, they won it in the twelfth when catcher Ramón Hernández laid down a two-out bunt single, scoring Eric Chavez from third base. Rich Harden was credited with the win, and Derek Lowe was credited with the loss. This was Oakland's ninth consecutive playoff win over Boston in the wake of ALCS sweeps in 1988 and 1990, breaking the record for consecutive playoff wins against one team set by the New York Yankees against the Chicago Cubs with World Series sweeps in 1932 and 1938. Incidentally, the Yankees nearly got a chance to extend that streak the same year.
Game 2, October 2
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
A five-run outburst in the second inning, capped off by a two-run throwing error by Todd Walker, was all the offense Oakland pitcher Barry Zito needed to claim the victory for the A's. Tim Wakefield was credited with the loss. The Athletics at this point were one win away from a trip to the ALCS.
Game 3, October 4
Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
Down 1–0 in the sixth inning, the Athletics had a potential rally stifled by controversial outs. Eric Byrnes was tagged out after failing to touch home plate after a collision with catcher Jason Varitek. Miguel Tejada was similarly retired after being obstructed by Bill Mueller while rounding third base. Obstruction was called by umpire Tim Welke. However time was not called by the umpire and Tejada stopped running thus giving the Red Sox time to tag him. The one run scored in the inning sent the game into extra innings, where Boston won on a two-run walk-off home run by Trot Nixon. Scott Williamson was credited with the win, and Rich Harden was credited with the loss. This loss ended Oakland's playoff-record winning streak against the Red Sox at ten games, a record the Red Sox themselves would break in 2008 when they won their eleventh consecutive playoff game against the Angels.
Game 4, October 5
Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
After Oakland starter Tim Hudson left with a strained left oblique after only one inning, the A's bullpen held the Sox to only three runs over the next seven innings. With a 4–3 lead in the eighth inning, however, closer Keith Foulke gave up a game-winning two-RBI double to David Ortiz, scoring Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramírez. Scott Williamson was credited with the win.
Game 5, October 6
Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
The Red Sox rode a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run Manny Ramírez home run to complete their comeback from an 0–2 series deficit. Down by one run, the A's loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but failed to score as temporary closer Derek Lowe struck out Terrence Long looking. The win was marred by a violent collision between outfielder Johnny Damon and second baseman Damian Jackson. Damon was sent to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Both starters factored into the decision, as Pedro Martínez was credited with the win, and Barry Zito was credited with the loss.
Boston's victory secured their place in the American League Championship Series while Oakland lost the ALDS after being up two games to none for the second time in three years.
Composite box
2003 ALDS (3–2): Boston Red Sox over Oakland Athletics